Replies

Thank you, PKCano. I looked for a prior report, but evidently had a user error in the looking. I will attempt to delete my post or mark resolved as it adds little value to the conversation.

Thanks again.

@Susan Bradley & @PKCano Thank you for all that you do for this community.

The following is not a question on AKB 2000016, rather it is a report of an apparently successful use of your mighty good works.

Before attempting the windows update, I read Susan Bradley’s article “Tasks for the Weekend – January 30, 2021” and PKCano’s article “AKB2000016: Guide for Windows Update Settings for Windows 10” and I read the comments (posted separately from the article) and PKCano’s responses.

I was on Windows 10 version 1909 and decided to accept updates to 2004 and nothing later. Per PKCano’s advice, I made a full disk image, a separate backup for data, and made a rescue disk (tested to make sure it was bootable).

Upon starting the update, I was a little surprised to find the Group Policy Editor item “target Feature Update version” was available to me on version 1909 (From reading “Tasks for Weekend” I thought that it did not become available until version 2004; I decided this was probably an error in my understanding and chose to press on). I set the target Feature Update version to 2004, made sure no other settings were configured. Also made sure the Group Policy Editor Windows Update settings = 2 (Notify for download and auto install), enabled install other MS products, and no other settings. Before updating, I checked Windows Update Advanced Options and observed they were as usual (in this case, “Pause until February 12, 2021,” also feature update defer 365 days, and quality update defer 30 days). I left them alone.

I pressed “Resume Updates” and set metered connection off (wrong sequence, but seemed to work out). I left it to run unattended but checked in from time to time. About 9 hours later it needed reboot and an additional 2 hours after that it had finished all its various reboots, etc. I double checked to make sure Group Policy Editor settings were as before (they were unchanged). Also double checked Windows Update Advanced Options and observed that Pause Updates now had no date specified, and the deferral & defer dates mentioned above were not present.

About 4 hours later I noticed that Windows Update needed some attention: Updates available:

Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool x64 – v5.85 (KB890830)

2020-11 Update for Windows 10 Version 2004 for x64-based Systems (KB4023057)

2020-10 Cumulative Update for .NET Framework 3.5 and 4.8 for Windows 10 Version 2004 for x64 (KB4578968)

2020-10 Security Update for Adobe Flash Player for Windows 10 Version 2004 for x64-based Systems (KB4580325)

[All of the above are Status: Pending download]

Updates are ready to download

These 4 updates above seem to be several months old, they don’t have the word “Preview,” and seem innocuous. I am considering downloading the above 4. If anyone knows something different, please respond.

BUT there is another: 2021-01 Cumulative Update Preview for Windows 10 Version 2004 for x64-based Systems (KB4598291). This is recent and has the word “Preview” in it. So, I intend to ignore it for at least another month. Subsequently I read Imacri’s query of February 5, 2021 to PKCano, and also read PK’s response https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/comments-on-akb-2000016-guide-for-windows-update-settings-for-windows-10/#post-2341104. I admit this latest query/response has me puzzled, but I’m going to wait a while.

My impression is this Windows Update experience went very smoothly for me. Thanks again for all your good works.

Dan Montague

mn– wrote:

Dan Montague wrote:

To conclude, with the UV-5Rs I should be able to use GMRS & FRS frequencies, but in 2018 or 2019 the FCC announced that these radios are not licensed for use on the ham bands (even though there are over a million of them in the USA).

… Wait, you need to use a licensed model on ham bands over there? I thought half the point was that hams can build their own and not have to take them to be inspected…?

I mean, many of the “interesting” ham rigs are in significant part homebrew one-offs over here at least…

mn– I’m very new, but here’s how I think it works in USA. For home-built rigs, the licensed amateur herself certifies it for use. I am pretty certain she doesn’t have to get it inspected, but look out if it causes interference. Neighbors may complain if it interferes with their TV, mobile phone, pace-maker, etc. Other amateurs may notice and report her.

For store-bought rigs, each manufacturer applies for and gets it certified for certain frequencies. The FCC (USA regulatory agency for airwaves) issues the manufacturer a Grant of Equipment Authorization or license for use. This must be attached to the unit. When I got the units, the first thing I checked was that label. So I thought “Yep, all good.”

Wait, wait, not so fast. It took several weeks for me to dig deep enough. Search of the FCC database for the license shows that it is legitimate for FCC Rule Part 15. Uhhh, … wait a mo’ … that’s not Part 97 (Amateur Radio). What does Part 15 cover?  Unlicensed RF Devices, and unintentional emitters? The clearest explanation I found was on YouTube. That ham walked through the FCC’s Letter of Enforcement about the UV-5R. Along the way he offered opinion that their Letter of 2018 needs some work, and meanwhile about a million owners will probably continue to use the radios, some illegally transmitting on ham bands.

Sorry for long-winded response.

2 users thanked author for this post.

wavy, Elly

mn– , Thanks, I agree hamradio would be great. Initially thought I wouldn’t have the grit to get entry level license, but … I’m getting ahead of myself. For several years I’ve had my eye on handheld transceivers capable on the GMRS frequency band, with secondary interests in the FRS, and ham radio frequencies. So 3 weeks ago I purchased a pair of BaoFeng UV-5R transceivers. The UV-5R can be programmed using a special USB cable and CHIRP software on my Windows 10 Pro machine. Piece of cake, I thought, but turns out it’s tricky enough for me that I decided to get some help.

A local amateur radio club had a regular monthly meeting scheduled for 2 weeks ago and I decided to go. I also decided, on a whim, to take a ham radio practice test. I did well enough that I decided to study for and challenge the licensing exam. Yesterday I passed the entry level Technician test and should have my ham license tomorrow! (Also bought a GMRS license). Going forward, I plan to volunteer for some of the local amateur radio emergency services (ARES or such). Also plan to study-up and challenge the higher level ham licenses.

mn–, BIG THANK YOU for hint about APRS – was able to Google around and found some online interactive maps of local APRS stations, including local weather stations and hams operating such. I also found another article that hints about
“APRS/SMS Gateway – Bridging the gap between APRS and SMS.”

That brings me back to emergency communications scenarios. Our events are usually hurricanes (cyclones), and in the last several years we’ve sheltered while storms moved through our location. A storm may degrade the local cellular network, meaning you lose signal, or the signal gets worse, fewer bars, more dropped connections. Before you lose all connection, you may have enough signal to push an SMS text message into the network, and the network may still be working enough to transport your text. I had read about using SMS text as an emergency communications link during cell network degradation. For both hurricane MATTHEW (2016) and Hurricane IRMA (2017) I successfully used SMS text to post to my Facebook status or wall page. These were short one-way notifications to family/friends about our status and immediate plans. Unfortunately, Facebook has dropped that service. Their web pages are still up and showing how to post using text, but it doesn’t work anymore, and they have not responded to my queries. Similarly, Twitter has restricted SMS text posting to certain markets (not USA?).

To conclude, with the UV-5Rs I should be able to use GMRS & FRS frequencies, but in 2018 or 2019 the FCC announced that these radios are not licensed for use on the ham bands (even though there are over a million of them in the USA).

1 user thanked author for this post.

Elly

wavy wrote:

The little Chinese SDRs are quite versatile, under $30 and some have the emergency bands easily available. Not necessarily the ones I link to here, they are just examples..
https://www.amazon.com/BaoFeng-UV-82HP-High-Power-Radio/dp/B00Z52HP10/ref=psdc_2230642011_t2_B00E4KLY34

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E4KLY34/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

A few flares may also be helpful..

Software-defined radio (SDR), Thanks, wavy. I will look into that.

chaloots wrote:

There are ISOs for 32-bit and 64-bit. There are ISOs for Home, Pro, or a combination of editions.

Microsoft’s recommended options for this PC defaulted to x64, Enlish (US) but with no Home/Pro option. Is this typical?

I don’t see a response to chaloots question of September 27, 2019 at 7:42 pm: “Microsoft’s recommended options for this PC defaulted to x64, Enlish (US) but with no Home/Pro option. Is this typical?”

I also got no Home/Pro option.